Oil burner and generator



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Nov. 17 1925- 1,561,930

. A. w JOHNSON OIL BURNER AND GENERATOR 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1925 wafar kerosene in van for. /l/10ren l1! Jafimso/r uiffamey.

Nov. 17,1925. "1,561,930

A. W. JOHNSON 0I L BURNER AND GENERATOR Filed Jan. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [We/1hr. A ndreu I14 Jo/inson.

01 Ha rn e v.

Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OIL BURNER AND GENERATOR.

Application filed January 15, 1925. Serial No. 2,434.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, ANDREW W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chester, county of Delaware, and State of Pennsylvania,have invented an Improvement in Oil Burners andGenerators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an eflicient method of burning oil for the generation of steam and heating purposes generally and the improvements are more particularly directed to the completecomb'ustion of crude or fuel oil with a minimum of smoke and carbon deposit.

My object is further to provide a construction of oil burner which may be used for the generation of steam, not only for its own utilization in the combustion of the oil, but also for purposes where steam in quantity may be required either for power or for heating purposes, and also for the further use of heating air separately or in conjunction with the generation of steam whereby said air may be utilized for the heating of rooms while-the steam is utilized for power purposes.

By means of the special construction of my improved burner, the initial heating may be performed by use of kerosene and thereafter the operation of the burner will be conducted with the vaporization of crude or fuel oil and the proper burning of the vapors and gases produced thereby with the proper regulated supply of air.

My improvements further comprehend the spraying of the fuel oil under the application of steam pressure and the vaporizing of the same within a vapor generator before being supplled to the burners proper, and in this connection I provide means whereby any excess of fuel oil unvaporized which passes from the generator into the combustion chamber is permitted to fall into space above the upwardly projected gaseous blast from the burner nozzles, so that A further feature of my improvements provides for the generation of steam within the generator and utilizing it for spraying the fuel oil in a finely subdivided condition into a vapor generator wherein it is gasified preliminary to being supplied to the burners,said steam subdividing means preferably projecting the sprayed fuel oil partly into the vaporizer and partly through nozzles which deliver fine fuel oil spray into the combustion chamber in a downward direction so as to be met with the upwardly moving burner blast for increasing the volume of combustible matter in the combustion chamber and reducing the amount of hydrocarbons which must be burned in the burners proper.

As a further feature of improvement, I provide the upper part of the combustion chamber with perforated'dome shaped bafiie plates which retard the escape of the products of combustion and provide them with adjustable means for supplying air to the products whereby they may be fullyburned before passing to the. chimney, and whereby carbon deposit or soot is avoided and the full utilization .of the carbon constituents of the fuel oil may be insured.

My improvements, embodying the fore going features and others hereinafter described, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a burner and generator embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on line 22 of Fig.

1; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

1 is an annular base supported uponsuitable feet and provided with apertures I for upward circulation of air. Supported upon the base is an upright outer cylinder 2 which encloses the burner mechanism proper and supports at the top a cap plate 38 and a dome 40 having the chimney outlet 40. Within this casing 2 is a secondary stationary casing comprising the following parts: I

A circular upright wall 3 is supported at its lower part upon the annular base 1 adjacent to its central opening, to provide a confining space for the burner proper. Situated upon the top of the upright wall 3 is an annular trough-shapedplate 8 having the annular trough 46. Supported upon the upper and outer portion of the annular trough-shaped plate is an outwardly and upwardly extending cylindrical casing 8 having an external diameter considerably less than the outer casing 2 and considerably greater than the diameter of the circular wall 3 and having its lower part inclined inwardly and seated upon the annular trough-shaped plate. The parts 3, 8 and 8 form a substantially continuous wall and provide an air space between it and the outer wall 9. as indicated at 2 and by which the air admitted to the combustion chamber may be heated before passing through the air apertures 9 under control of a rotary adjustable valve piece 9 arranged at the lower inclined part of the casing 8. The adjustable air valve 9 may be adjusted by means of a handle portion 10 extending through the casings 8 and 2. Arranged above the casing Sand supported thereon are two conical dome-shaped plates 39 and 39 sleeved together by vertical flange portions 4&1 and 4:1 on the respective conical dome plates 39 and- 39, said flanges being respectively notched, as at 42 and 422, and adapted to cooperate under adjustment to provide controlled air passages from the outer air space 2 into the space between the conical domeshaped plates 39 and 39. Furthermore, the upper central portions of the dome-shaped plates 39 and 39 are provided with relatively large apertures 52 and are also perforated with smaller apertures 51 arranged preferably about the central portions of these plates. The vertical flange of one of the dome-shaped plates (39) rests upon the vertical flange of the next lower domeshaped plate 39 and the latter rests upon the upper edge of the inner cylindrical wall 8, so that said flanges form continuations of the wall structure above the wall 3. Furthermore, these conical dome-shaped plates 39, 39,are provided with adjusting arms 43 extending through the outer casing 2 and by whichthe plates 39 and 39 may be circumferentially adjusted to control the air passages formed by the notched portions 42 and 12, for controlling the heated air passing from the chamber 2 into the space 51 be tween the dome plates for more fully consuming any combustible gases which may be flowing upwardly through the perforations in said plates.

16 is a hydrocarbon gas distriluitor for the blast nozzles 13 receiving steam from a pipe 35 having a control valve 35 therein. The discharge ends of said nozzles extend through the distributing chamber 16 and are supplied with combustible gas through surrounding annular passages 17. In this way. a plurality of upwardly extending jets of combustible gases are projected into the combustion chamber below the dome-shape plate 39.. The general construction of this burner mechanism may be varied and made in any suitable manner to provide an upward flame supplied with combustible gases from the distributing chamber 16 and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the details shown. The distributor and the burner nozzles are arranged in the lower part of the interior space formed by the annular wall 3 and immediately above the burner nozzles are provided superposed diaphragm plates r. and 5 having apertures 31 through which the flame is projected into the combustion chamber, said apertures being capable of relative adjustment to control the size of the orifice immediately above the burner nozzles. The plates a and are respectively provided with annular flanges T and 6 which snugly fit within the annular wall 3 and are capable of horizontal rotary adjustment by means of the arms 12 and 11, one of which is connected with the plate 4 and the other with the plate 5, said arms extending through the annular wall 3 and through the outer casing 2, as shown. The apertures it are preferably square so that as the plates 4: and 5 are adjusted a maximum opening may be provided above the burner nozzles or said apertures may be reduced to a very small area, the construction of' such aper tures being clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The purposeof the apertures, aside from forming passages for the blast of combustible gases, are also to provide means for supplying air to the gaseous mixture at the time it is passing through the orifices t4, so as to more fully provide for the combustion of the gases within the combustion chamber. The air in passing upward around the cars ing of the distributing chamber 16 becomes heated before being mixed .with the combustible gases, to increase the combustibility thereof.

33 is an upwardly. extending pipe connected at its bottom with the central portion of the casing of the distributor chamber 16 and has communication with said chamber so that gases passing down the pipe may find their way into the chamber, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the pipe 33 is secured a primary retort 16 providing a superheating space from which the pipe 33 opens so that gases from the retort may freely pass into the pipe. This retort is arranged in the combustion chamber above the burners and also prefer ably above the air. valve devices 9, 9*. As the distributing chamber 16 is supplied with combustible gaseous products from the primary retort and superheating retort, the connection of pipe with said distributing chamber may be omitted and made to discharge directly into the combustion chamber. The retort 16 is supplied with fuel oil by a pipe 25 provided vith steam nozzles 48 for spraying the oil into the retort chamber, said steam nozzles being supplied by a steam pipe 26 having a control valve 26 The fuel oil supply pipe is provided with an automatic shut-off valve 24 and also with a hand controlled valve 24* for regulating thereby be thoroughly vaporized and con-l sumed before such spray reaches any metallic plate or surfaces where it could carbon ize. In this manner, complete combustion is insured and the heat thus provided is utilized for further heating of the retort 16 and other similar retorts, as well as steam generating retorts to be described. 7

A pipe 33 extends upwardly from the retort chamber 16*, preferably in alinementwith the pipe 33 leading from the bottom thereof, said pipe 33 opening into a superheater or retort chamber 16 into which gases are received by the pipe 33 from the retort 16*. In this manner, the gaseous products which are first generated in 16% under the high temperature therein, are permitted in part to pass into the superheating retort 16 where they are still further gasitied and are led therefrom by a gas transfer pipe 31 for delivering them to the distributor chamber 16 to supplement the gases which may pass directly from the retort 16 through pipe 33 into the distributor cham ber. In this manner,'the burner nozzles 13 'utilizethe gases produced from the fuel oil in providing strong upwardly projecting flames into the combustion chamber under'the retorts 16 'and 16 and directly under the downwardly extending tubular nozzles 47- internally with an annular water coil 28.

having perforated walls from which water n'iay spray into the steam space, the water being supplied to said coils by supply pipes 27 having control Valves 27. Where I employ a plurality of these steam generating retorts29, I prefer that they shall be connected by a pipe 30 from which a steam delivery pipe 30 may extend, said pipe pro .vided with a safety valvef30 The steam thus generated may be used for any purpose desired and may be the source of steam which is supplied to the nozzles 48 (for spraying the fuel oil) and also for the burnernozzles 13. As indicated, a valved steam pipe 26 is shown as connecting the steam retort 29 with the steam supply pipe 26 leading to the nozzles 48, by way of example of the use of steam from this source for said nozzles.

It is manifest that as many of the superheating gas retorts 16*, as desired, may be employed, and equally so in respect to the steam generating retorts, as in the latter case, one or more may be employed, according as to the size of the apparatus and the duty to be performed.

The perforated dome-shaped plates 39 and 39 at the top part of the casing operate to retard the escape of the products of combustion and in that manner insure a better'heating of theretorts and aid in economy in the useuof oil asv a fuel. As all of the heating products may not be fully burned, such as may pass abovethe lower dome 39 will be further fully burned with vthe admixture of air from the controlled apertures 42 of the valve devices 41 -and 42*; Air may be supplied to the chamber 51 between the domeshaped portions or plates 39 and 39 in any other suitable manner desired, and such further combustion of theremaining products as may exist will further enhance the temperature produced within the combustion chamber below the dome-shaped portions. The rising'heated products of com bustion above the dome-shaped portions will pass into a flue 4O from which they may be led to any place of use or to the chimney, .as desired.

20 is a pan arranged below the burners 13 and is carried by an arm 21 hinged to a support 23 and said arm 21 is connected by a rod 22 with a shut-off valve 24onthe fuel oil supply pipe 25, the construction being such that when the said valve 24 is in open position any escaping oil from the nozzles will find its way into the'pan 20and thereby, through its weight, cause the pan to be depressed and the valve 24 to be automatically shut off. This is a safety device as a protection and is not a part of the burner or heat- I ,would include a supply of combustible gas to be employed with the nozzles 13. Provision for this is found in the annular gas retort 32, which is arrar'igedv above the annular trough-shaped "casing 46 and adjacent being ignited, provides a heating flame 'to supply the initial vaporization of the kerosene in the retort 32. As soon as the flame is provided from the burner nozzles .18, the heat thus produced will continue the vaporization of the kerosene until a sufficiently high temperature is provided for gasifying the heavy fuel oil in the retorts 16 and 16 and thereafter the kerosene supply is shut oii by closing the valve 34 and the apparatus continues to operate wholly under the heavy fuel oil. kerosene, air is supplied, not only through the apertures ll above the burners 13 but also through the apertures 9* under the control of the valve 9 before referred to, these latter being also employed to supply additional air for improving the combustion of the gases from the fuel oil duringthe nor mal operation of the apparatus and are especially useful when the orifices 14 are reduced to a minimum area.

I. have shown my improved apparatus in a form convenient for proper assemblage of the cooperatingparts, but I do not restrict myself to the particular shapes'or details of the cooperating parts, except in so far as they are especially recited in the claims.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a casing providing a combustion chamber, a vapor generator comprising a retort in which the oil to be vaporized is supplied, one or more steam nozzles During the burning of the by the latter is enable'd'to provide combustive' gases, an outlet from the retort directed downward toward'the burner but terminating at a distance above the same whereby sprayed hydrocarbons may be projected directly into the combustion chamber and into the flame from the burner so as to be thoroughly consumed, and means for're-g-u lating the supply of air to provide air not only for the burner but to assist in the com bustion of the gases from the retort.

The invention according to claim 1,

wherein further, thereis provided within" the combustion chamber a steam generating retort provided with a water supply pipe, and

with a superheating retort and an additional communication with the burner therefrom whereby the burner is supplied with heavier oil gases from the generator retort throug'lr one'passa'ge' and also supplied with lighter gases heated to a higher temperature from the super-heating retort.

5; The invention according to claim 1,

wherein the combustion chamber is further provided at its upper part with perforated dome plat-es, andadjustable means for supplying air to the gases passing through the dome plates to insureperfect combustion of the carbonaceous gases before passing to the chimney.

6.- The invention according to claim 1,

wherein the combustion chamber is" further provided at' its upper part with perforated dome plates, and'adjustable means forsup ply'ing'air to-the gases passing through the dome plates to insure perfect combustion of the carbonaceous gases before passing to the chimney, and a heated passage surrounding the combustion chamber for'heating the air before being supplied to the gases passing through the dome plates;

7Q The invention according to claim 1", wherein further, the combustion chamber is surrounded with a hot air chamber, and valve controlled air passages are provided between the-hot air chamber and the combustion chamber intermediate of the burner and the generator retort.

8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the combustion chamber above the burner is'provided with an annular trough for receiving kerosene for pre-'.

liminary heating, an annular vapor genera tor immediately abovethe same for'provid ing a preliminary oil vapor to the burners when starting up the apparatus, and an adjustable air valve surrounding the U shaped trough and immediately adjacent thereto.

9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the combustion chamber is provided at its upper part with a plurality of perforated dome shaped plates for subdividing the gases as they pass to the chimney, said dome shaped plates providing an intermediate chamber through which the products of combustion pass, and adjustable valve means for admitting air into the space between the dome shaped plates-for insuring perfect combustion.

10. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the combustion chamber is provided at its upper part with a plurality of perforated dome shaped plates for subdividing the gases'as they pass to the chimney, said dome shaped plates providing an intermediate chamber through which the products of combustion pass, and adjustable valve means for admitting air into the space between the dome shaped plates for insuring perfect combustion, said dome shaped plates arranged for relative rotary movement about a vertical axis for providing adjustment of the air valve devices.

11. The invention of the character stated, consisting of the combination of a casing providing a combustion chamber, a burner arranged at the lower part of the casing, a generator retort arranged in the combustion chamber above the burner and provided with means for supplying oil to its interior in sprayed condition; one or more downwardly extending nozzles opening from the interior of the generator retort and providing communication with the combustion chamber below the generator retort and above the burner, whereby the oil vapors from the retort are supplied directly into the combustion chamber in a downward direction, and means for controlling the air supplied to the combustion chamber.

12. vThe invention according to claim 11, wherein further, a steam jet is provided for spraying the oil in the generator retort, an annular steam generating retort is provided as a source of the steam and is arranged about the generator retort and slightly above it and providing an annular combustion passage between said retorts whereby the products of combustion from the burner may first reach the generator retort and spread therefrom over its perimeter to the steam retort.

13. The invention according to claim 11, wherein further, there is provided a superheating retort for the oil gases in communication with the generator retort, a passage from the superheating retort directly to the burner, two annular steam generating retorts respectively surrounding the generator and superheating retorts, means for supplying water to the said steam generating retorts, and suitable pipes leading from the said steam generating retorts and extending through the casing.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW W. JOHNSON. 

